Log handling machine



June 7, 1960 R. G.-LE TOURNEAU 2,939,596

LOG HANDLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WW? 6? elzmmzu BY June 7, 1960 R. G. LE TOURNEAU 2,93

LOG HANDLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1957 INVENTOR. Wm 63 46%arnfaa BY 1'! WWA United States Patent LOG HANDLING MACHINE Robert G. LeTourneau, P.0. Box 2307, Longview, Tex. Filed Aug. 5, 1957, Ser. No. 676,317

3 Claims. (Cl. 214-654) My invention relates to improvements in log handling machines and more particularly to heavy duty machines for loading, unloading, and stacking logs.

The log handling machine shown and described herein is similar to that disclosed by my co-pending application S.N. 606,048, filed August 24, 1956, now Patent No. 2,828,878, with the exception of the lift carriage assembly.

An important object of my invention is to provide an improved lift carriage assembly for a log handling machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a log handling machine of the fork lift type having improved lift carriage mechanism for'loading, unloading, clamping, and sorting logs.

Another object of my invention is to provide a log handling machine of the fork lift type incorporating a novel fork load log handlingmechanism.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as i will be apparent from the following description'taken in accordance with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is a left side elevational view of a log handling machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the near wheels removed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the machine of Fig. 1 with the handling mechanism removed;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing construction of the lift carriage bed and frame;

Fig. 5 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the lift drive mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the lift carniage assembly;

Fig. 7 is a partial schematic section View taken at line 77 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a partial schematic section view taken at line 8-8 of Fig. 6. V

Referringnow to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a fork lift type log handling machine including a front frame portion 11, a rear frame portion 13, front and rear axles 15, 17, steering assembly 19, power plant 21, wheel and wheel drive assemblies 23, cab 25, operators seat 27, control station 29, lift assembly 31, and lift tilt mechanism 33. The front frame portion 11 is in the form of a long relatively deep and narrow reinforced box beam. Transverse portions (not shown) within the beam provide compartments for various purposes as well as added strength to the structure. The top surface of the box beam tapers downward at the front end. The front axle 15 in the form of a reinforced tubular member having bolt flanges at its ends is rigidly fixed at its center portion to the front portion of said box beam 11 and transverse thereto. Fixed rigidly to the lower front portion ofsaid front frame 11 in front of said front axle 15 and transversely symmetrical therewith are a pair of horizontally aligned balls 37 which are disposed to cooperate with sockets on the lift frame to be hereinafter 'described. 'The rear of the box member 11 is provided ice with rearwardly extending projections at its top and bottom. These projections carry inwardly disposed and vertically aligned balls 39 for co-operation wlth sockets on the rear frame portion to be hereinafter described.

The rear face of the box member 11 tapers downwardly and forwardly between the projections. A slot is formed adjacent to top rear of the lower projection for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The bottom face of the box beam 11 adjacent the rear portion tapers downwardly and rearwardly and then rearwardly to the end of the lower projection. The rear frame 13 is in the form of a reinforced box beam structure relatively deep and narrow and having a large centrally disposed transverse slot for receiving the rear axle 17. This slot forms a saddle like structure over the rear axle, and carries oppositely disposed horizontally aligned sockets 41 at its transverse center. The rear axle 17 is in the form of a reinforced tubular member having bolt flanges 35 at its ends and carrying horizontally aligned oppositely disposed balls 43 at its transverse center. These balls 43 co-operate with the sockets 41 in the slot of the rear frame 13 to allow the axle 17 oscillating motion about a horizontal axis. Centrally disposed at the lower front portion of the rear frame and fixed rigidly thereto is a large sector gear 45 which extends forwardly into the small slot at the lower rear portion of the front frame 11. An electric motor and gear box 47 are fixed to the floor inside the front frame 11 at its rear portion with the gear box output pinion extending through the floor and engaging the sector gear 45 to provide for steering the machine by turning the rear frame assembly about its vertical pivot axis. Fixed rigidly to the lower rear portion of the rear frame and centrally disposed with respect thereto is a transversely extending power plant cradle 49 in the form of a shallow rectangular open-topped reinforced box structure. The power plant 21 comprises an internal combustion engine driving electric generators. Each wheel and wheel drive assembly 23 includes an electric motor 51 and a gearing system. The gearing system is contained within the wheel itself and the electric motor is bolted to the wheel, then the entire assembly is bolted to the axle bolt flange 35 with the motor extending into the axle. For details of a similar wheel and wheel drive assembly reference is made to my U.S. Patent No. 2,726,726, issued December 13, 1955.

The lift frame 53, sometimes herein referred to as the elevator bed and frame, comprises a pair of substantially identical spaced parallel heavy channel members 55 disposed so that their side walls face outward. A pair of heavy rectangular bar members 57 of substantially the same length as said channel members are welded to the flat side of each channel member in spaced parallel relation and so that a side of each bar and an adjacent channel wall outside surface lie substantially in a common plane and thus each pair of bars forms a guideway for the carriage rollers to be hereinafter described. Each guideway is closed at its lower end by a short rectangular bar member 59. The channels are closed at. their upper end by a rectangular steel plate 61. The channels are held apart in rigid relation by a plurality of transversely extending heavy box beam members which are fixed ladder-step fashion to the back surfaces of the channels. These transversely extending members are for convenience designated as first, second, third, fourth, and fifth transverse brace members 63 looking from bottom to top in Fig. 4. The third and fourth said bracemembers are made smaller than the rest. A ball socket 65 is rigidly fixed to the back face of each channel at its lower end portion. These sockets are transversely aligned and co-operate with the balls 37 on the front of the machine front frame portion 11. A plurality of rectangular reinforcing plates 67 are disposed in spaced parallel relation and bridged across the side walls of each channel at each transverse brace location and also at the'ball socket location. A plurality of heavy box beam diagonal brace members 69 are disposed in Zig-zag fashion between the first and second, second and third, third and fouith, and fourth and fifth transverse brace members 69, respectively, and are fixed rigidly thereto. Additional strength and rigidity is added to the lift frame structure by a trusswork of tubular members. This truss work comprises a first pair of tubular members 71 disposed to form the sides of an isosceles triangle with the said first transverse brace member 63 as the base of the triangle and the triangle lying in a plane perpendicular to the carriage guideway channels. A second pair of tubular members 73 is disposed to form a first V having each of its free ends fixed to a respective carriage guideway channel member just below said second transverse brace member, with said V lying in a plane perpendicular to the carriage guideway channels. apex of said isosceles triangle and the other end fixed to the apex of said first V and is parallel to said carriage guideway channel members. A further pair of tubular brace members 77 are disposed to form a second V with the apex fixed to the apex of said first isosceles triangle and the free ends fixed one to each carriage guideway channel just above the respective bearing mount socket 65. A further pair of tubular brace members 79 are disposed to form a third V with the apex fixed to the apex of said first V and the free ends fixed respectively to said fifth transverse brace member adjacent its end portion. A heavy duty sheave and sheave block assembly 81 is rigidly fixed to the elevator frame 53 and its upper end portion so that the sheave turns on a horizontal axis and so that a cable 83 is brought up on one side of the transverse brace members and over the sheave and down on the other side between the carriage guideways. The elevator frame assembly 53 is mounted on the front frame portion 11 of the machine by means of the co-operating balls 37 and sockets 65 hereinbefore mentioned. Tilting of the elevator frame about its pivot axis is provided by an electric motor driven rack and pinion arrangement. The rack 85 is pivoted at one end about a horizontal axis at 87, adjacent the apex of said first V of the elevator frame. A pair of heavy tubular members 89 are arranged generally in the form of an inverted V, with their free ends rigidly fixed to the upper face of the front frame 11 so that the V lies in a vertical plane with its apex just forward of the frame center portion. A pair of spaced parallel upstanding heavy plates 91 are fixed at the apex of the V, with guide rollers 93 bridging their upper portion. An electric motor driven gear box 95 is mounted on the outside of one of said plates With its output pinion extending through the plate to the inside. This output pinion engages the rack 85 of the tilting mechanism 33, while the rollers just mentioned serve to hold the rack into engagement with the pinion.

The cab 25 of the machine is an enclosure of open tubular construction having side members 97, bottom members 99, a floor 101, top members 103, and top 105. The cab floor supports the operators seat'27 and the control station 29 which is located immediately in front of the seat. The cab is supported by the front frame box beam 13 and by the frame members 89 that support the tilt rack drive. The cab 25 is positioned slightly above and just forward of the center portion of said box beam as shown in Fig. 1 and to the left side of the box beam, as shown by Fig. 3.

The lift carriage 107 assembly shown in Fig. 6 includes a pair of substantially identical upstanding parallel spaced main members 109 made from heavy steel slab material and having rectangular cross section. Fixed to the upper end of said main members and symmetrically disposed with respect thereto is a transverse primary tusk shaft support member 111. This member is a heavy box beam having end closures 112 with a central bore to support A tubular member 75 has one end fixed to the 4 bearings 113. Fixed to the lower ends of said main members and symmetrically disposed with respect'thereto is a transverse fork-tine support member 115. This member is a heavy box beam which carries a tine receptacle 117 at each end. Each receptacle is in the form of a rectangular box which is open at the front end and partially open at the top. The receptacles are designed to removably receive and support fork .tines 119. Each fork tine is a heavy bar of rectangular cross section and has a top surface which tapers downwardly and forwardly over its length. The large end of each fork tine 119 is received by a respective receptacle 117, the receptacle inside dimensions being chosen to provide a loose fit on said tine end portion. The receptacle side walls and the large end portion of the work tines are provided with axially aligned holes adapted for receiving a pin 121 which acts to hold the tine securely in place. A cotter key is inserted in the end of the pin to hold the pin in place. A tusk support primary shaft 123 is journaled on the bearings 113 in the end closures 112 of the primary tusk shaft support member 111, as shown by Fig. 7. Fixed to the primary shaft 123 immediately beyond the left end closure, as seen in Fig. 7, is a heavy sector gear 125. Fixed to the end portions of the primary shaft and extending forwardly therefrom and mutually parallel are a pair of primary tusk members 127. Each primary tusk member is a heavy box beam of rectangular cross-section having depth several times its width. The box beam in side elevation has the shape of a very shallow inverted V. Fixed on the upper side of the tusk primary shaft support member 111 at its left end portion is a gear box mount bracket 129. A gear box 131 is mounted on said bracket with its output pinion disposed to engage the sector gear 125 aforementioned. The gear box 131 is driven by an electric motor 133 which is mounted thereto on the side opposite said output pinion.

Each said main member of the lift carriage assembly carries a bearing roller 135 (only one shown) on its outer side near its lower end and another near its upper end. These bearing rollers rotate on axes perpendicular to the long axes of said main members. Each said main member also carries a side thrust roller 137 near its lower end and another near its upper end (not shown). These side thrust rollers rotate on axes perpendicular to those of the bearing roller. The bearing rollers are adapted for cooperation with the opposed walls of the lift frame guideways, While the side thrust rollers are adapted for cooperation with the third wall of said guideways. A lift block 139 in the form of a heavy rectangular metal slab bridges between said main members at the rear portion of their inner faces. A cable sheave 141 for receiving a lift cable is pivotally mounted on said block. Fixed to the outer ends of the primary tusk members and bridging therebetween is a tusk secondary shaft support member 143 in the form of a heavy box beam. The secondary shaft support member is provided with heavy end closures 145 each having a central bore to support a bearing 147 (see Fig. 8). Tusk support secondary shaft 159 is journaled on the bearings 147 in the end closures 145 of the secondary tusk shaft support member 143. Fixed to the secondary shaft immediately beyond the right end closure, as seen in Fig. 8, is a heavy sector gear 152. Fixed to the end portions of the secondary shaft and extending outwardly therefrom and mutually parallel are a pair of secondary tusk members 154. Each secondary tusk member is a heavy metal slab of rectangular cross section and tapered toward its outer end. Fixed on the upper side ofthe tusk secondary shaft support member at its right end portion is a gear box mount bracket 156. A gear box 158 is mounted on said bracket with its output pinion disposed to engage the sector gear aforementioned. The gear box 158 is driven by an electric motor 160 which is mounted thereto on the side opposite said output pinion.

The cable drive assembly comprises a cable drum 149, a gear box 151, an electric drive motor 153, and a mounting plate 155. The gear box and cable drum mounting plate is a plate of heavy metal sheet material which is fixed in an upright attitude to the right side rear of the lift frame 31 and extends rearwardly therefrom at the level between said first and second transverse brace members 63 of the hit frame. The said plate is further supported by brace members 157 extending to it from the lift frame tubular truss-work. The plate has a centrally disposed opening adapted for receiving a bearing 159, and has a second opening vertically aligned with and below'said centrally disposed opening adjacent the plate bottom portion (see Fig. The lift cable drum 149 is disposed on one side of said plate 155 and is journalled to said plate by means of a shaft 161 carried by a hearmg 159 which is in turn carried by said centrally disposed opening. The said shaft extends through opening and on the opposite side carries a spline 163 and is threaded at its end portion to receive a lock nut 164. A large bull gear 165 is splined on said shaft and secured in place by said lock nut. The gear box 151 is secured to said plate on the same side as said cable drum by bolts, so that its output pinion 167 extends through said second opening and engages said bull gear 165. A suitably shaped cover plate 169 is provided on the bull-gear side of said plate and is secured thereto by bolts (not shown) in aligned holes on the cover flange and the plate respectively. The electric drive motor 153 is secured to the gear box by bolts (not shown). The electric drive motor carries an electromagnetically operated brake 171 at its outer end portion. The brake is designed to be held off when the motor is energized and on when the motor is de-energized.

As hereinbefore mentioned, all of the various functions of the machine are electrically powered and are controlled from the operators control station 29. Some of the components of the electrical system are mounted within the box beam of the front frame portion of the machine. Cover plates 173 on the side ,of said beam allow access to such components for maintenance and repair purposes. Fuel for the internal combustion engine is also carried in a compartment of the said box beam 11.

The operations for which control is provided at the operators control station are: wheel motors, forward and reverse; steering, left and right; lift mechanism tilt, forward and backward; lift carriage, up and down; primary tusks, open and closed; and secondary tusks, open and close.

For loading from a truck, the machine is maneuvered into position at the side of the truck with the tusks open and the tines under the load. The tines are then moved up to contact the load and the tusks are closed. The load is then raised off the truck, the lift mechanism is tilted back, and the load is carried by the machine to the unloading location, where the lift carriage is moved up or down to the desired unloading level and then tilted forward. The primary and secondary tusks are then maneuvered in mutual co-operation so that the secondary tusk is behind the load, and then so that the load is pushed oif the tines by the secondary tusks. In loading from a pile it is possible to select the logs to be loaded.

The undesired logs are pushed out of the way bythe secondary tusks, and selected logs are pulled onto the tines, also by the secondary tusks. The double jointed tusk arrangement, providing independently powered primary and secondary tusks, greatly increases the utility of the fork lift type log handling machine, making loading and unloading faster and easier, better load clamping,

' and also making possible effective and economical selective loading and sorting operations. a

While I have shown my invention in only one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not mary tusks at the end portions thereof and bridging therebetween, the secondary shaft journalled on said support member, secondary load clamping tusks supported so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

by and fixed with respect to said secondary shaft for rotation therewith, and power operated means for rotating said secondary tusks.

2. In a log handling machine of the fork lift type, a lift carriage comprising a frame, load support means fixed to the lower portion of said frame, a primary shaft extending transversely of said frame at the upper portion thereof and transversely centered and journalled thereon, primary load clamping tusks supported by and fixed with respect to said shaft for rotation therewith, a gear fixed to said shaft, a powered gear box fixed to said frame and having an output pinion engaging said gear, a secondary shaft support member extending transversely of said primary tusks at the end portions thereof and bridging therebetween, a secondary shaft journalled on said support member, secondary load clamping tusks supported by and fixed with respect to said secondary shaft for rotation therewith, a gear fixed to said secondary shaft, and a powered gear box fixed to said secondary shaft support member and having an output pinion engaging said last mentioned gear.

3. In a log handling machine of the fork lift type, a lift carriage comprising a frame, load support means fixed to the lower portion of said frame, a primary shaft support member extending transversely of said frame at the upper portion thereof and transversely centered thereon and fixed thereto, a primary shaft journaled on said support member, a pair of spaced parallel primary load clamping tusks supported by and fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, said primary tusks being box beams of rectangular cross section and having the shape of a shallow inverted V, a gear fixed to said shaft, an electrically powered gear box fixed to said support member and having an output pinion engaging said gear, a secondary shaft support member extending transversely of said primary tusks at the end portions thereof and bridging therebetween, a secondary shaft journalled on said support member, a pair of spaced parallel secondary load clamping tusks supported by and fixed with respect to said secondary shaft for rotation therewith, said secondary tusks being tapered toward their free ends, a gear fixed to said secondary shaft, and an electrically powered gear box fixed to said secondary shaft support member and having an output pinion engaging said last mentioned gear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,418,251 Drott Apr. 1, 1947 2,583,075 Anderson et al. Jan. 22, 1952 2,626,722 Talbott Ian. 27, 1953 2,684,165 Hill July 20, 1954 2,788,143 La Tendresse Apr. 9, 1957 2,795,872 Wardle June 18, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS I 7 920,899 Germany Dec. 2, 1954 1,093,545 France May 5, 1955 

